UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY PARENTS’ CLUB OF CENTRAL FLORIDA United States Air Force Academy Parents’ Club of Central Florida June 6, 2015 The United States Air Force Academy Parents’ Club of Central Florida is honored to welcome all of our Graduates, Appointees, Cadets, and Parents. Our June Brunch is dedicated to honoring our 2015 Graduates and all Appointees. Welcome Appointees and Future Cadets. An Appointment to become a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy is an extraordinary honor. For many it is the culmination of a life-long dream. It also is the beginning – the beginning of a four year, extremely challenging regimen of academic, physical, character, and military training. The environment is intense and rigorous. The first year, known as the “Fourth Class” year, involves the greatest adjustment primarily for the cadets themselves, but also for their parents. Welcome Graduates and Congratulations Class of 2015. You have reached the zenith of your four year dream; you are now Officers of the United States Air Force. We stand proud and humbled at your commitment, courage and discipline. Your legacy will remain with us. We wish you many successful journeys as you serve our Country. As we welcome and celebrate our future cadets and graduates, we also remember the history of our Association. The USAFA Parents’ Club of Central Florida enriches the experience of parents during their cadet’s years at the Academy and beyond. We provide support, information, camaraderie, and a greater feeling of connection to our cadets and their experience. In 2006 the USAFA Parents’ Club of Central Florida reached an important milestone by becoming a non-profit association under the 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The USAFA Parents’ Club of Central Florida is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The purpose of the Association is to provide assistance, encouragement, and support to the sons and daughters of members and to each other in matters pertaining to cadets. In addition, the Association will provide information and encouragement to parents of prospective cadets as well as assistance to the Academy Liaison Officers (ALOs) assigned to the Central Florida area. We invite you to become a member of the USAFA Parents Club of Central Florida. Members gather together several times throughout the year and organize fundraiser events to enable us to meet our goals. We are certain that your membership participation will enrich your USAFA experience. Please feel free to contact any board member or club member. We are here to support you and answer any questions or concerns. Respectfully, Eugene Campbell President Official Parents Club Homepage http://www.usafa.edu/superintendent/cma/parentsclub.cfm “Parents of cadets who unite together to support each other during that traumatic time when their sons or daughters are away from home, attending the Academy.” You are so proud....your son or daughter has been accepted to the United States Air Force Academy! The day arrives. You stay with your new cadet at Doolittle Hall until the very last minute. Then you must say good-bye and your cadet walks away to begin in-processing. You won't see your cadet again until Parents' Weekend. What do you do now? You miss your "Doolie" already and you know you're going to have so many questions as the days go by. Most parents experience many emotions when their children leave home. As parents of cadets, you are very special. Your children are attending one of the finest institutions in America. They will enter the Academy as young adults, but after four years, they will emerge as officers of the United States Air Force. Your children have left the nest ... how will YOU survive the four years? There are presently 93 parents' clubs in the United States, with every state having representation. These clubs are, basically, support groups. The parents support each other - and they support their cadets and the Academy. They're in charge of rumor control. They voice their opinions. They provide shoulders to lean on. They remain members, even though their cadets have long since graduated. They become lifetime friends. As the parents' club liaison, we urge you to join the parents' club in your local area. For more information, please contact us. HQ USAFA CMA Development & Alumni Programs Division 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 351 USAF Academy, CO 80840-5002 Phone (DSN or COMM) 719-333-3828 USAFA CFL PARENTS’ CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015 – 2016 President Eugene Campbell ebcampbelljr@yahoo.com Vice President Kathleen Rieker kathleenrealest@aol.com Treasurer Monica Barto monica.barto@ymail.com Secretary Erica Holloway crosswalk40@gmail.com Event Coordinator(s) Barbara Stukey dbstukey@aol.com Zofia Wisniewski – rzwisniewski@bellsouth.net Angela Rodriguez - arodriguez@gmail.com USAFA Parents’ Club of Central Florida website: www.cfparentsclub.com Password: Falconz CLUB FUNDRAISERS Our Club is completely self-funded. Everything we do is for the benefit of our member families and cadets. To accomplish our Mission we hold a couple of fundraisers each year. In the past, we have worked the Daytona races, solicited corporate donations and matching donations, and current members have made donations. We have discussed a 5K Run, a night at Cork and Olive for wine and fun, selling saber cases to the cadet community, and several others. We are actively looking for new fundraising ideas so please let us know if you have any. Our fundraising activities have always been fun and are another way to spend time with other families, share hints, get questions answered, talk about your cadet’s experiences, and generally have a good time. ALL SERVICES MILITARY BALL TBD – Save the Date!! Every year during the Christmas break, one of the Service Academies hosts a Military Ball. The Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines all participate. This year will be hosted by the Army at TBD, more details to follow. We hosted the event a few years ago, and knowing how much time and effort goes into the planning and preparation for this ceremony, we appreciated the attendance from our fellow military academies. We realize it’s a busy time for everyone, but we would like to return in kind, and show them our support this year!. BASIC TRAINING – JUST THE BEGINNING! WHAT TO EXPECT DURING BASIC CADET TRAINING (BCT) No Communication and Little Correspondence from your Doolie. Spending hours in front of the computer looking for pictures of your Doolie on the “Webguy” website. Your Doolie Day Out phone call. Be sure you are near your phone all day. You don’t know when your Doolie will call. During Basic Training, answer ALL phone calls from strange numbers. Your Doolie may have been given a privilege from a Cadre and allowed to use their phone. Not a lot of nice words about the Basic Training experience. Be supportive. Support from your Parents Club. Ask any and all questions of the group during this time. SEND YOUR CADET WITH CASH! They will not have access to their bank account until after BCT and they will want and need cash, especially for room supplies and the Rodeo! FOLLOW YOUR BASIC TO PARENTS WEEKEND! Date 25-Jun 26-Jun 04-Jul 10-Jul 11Jul 18Jul 20-Jul Time 0730 0830 0730 Activity In-Processing Swearing-In Ceremony 4th of July Notes Drop-off Appointee at Designated Time 0630 Field Day Viewing Access only – no basic cadet interaction 0730 08001900 Rodeo No Access (provide your Cadet with $) Doolie Day Out March out to Jacks Valley CFL Parents Club BCT Lunch March back from Jacks Valley Acceptance Day Parade (Tentative) Fall Semester classes start (Tentative) Basics spend day with Sponsor & cell phone access Parents Weekend More details at Aug club meeting 0800 TBD 31-Jul 4-Aug 6-Aug Sep 4 Sep 7 0900 No Access Viewing access info released at later date Held at local restaurant - more details via email Viewing access info released at later date Parents can visit with Cadet for an hour or so at Academy –Stillman Field 1100-1300 The Swearing In Ceremony, March out and back from Jacks Valley can all be watched from the Cadet Chapel Observation Area. Check the following website for any changes in the BCT schedule and for BCT Frequently Asked Questions http://www.usafa.edu/Commandant/BCT/FAQ/?catname=BCT FAQ INPROCESSING Arrive early to start in-processing. You will be assigned a time so make certain that you are not late. The line of cars can back up quickly at the security gate. There is no need to get boots early as the new style does not require a break in period. Take only what you are told you can bring although many find they can bring sliders to wear under their ABUs which is very helpful during BCT. Parents, take a lot of pictures. Make certain you know your Doolie’s BCT Squadron and Flight Letter. This comes in handy when trying to pick them out of a crowd. After your Doolie leaves on the bus, make sure to attend the free BBQ put on by the Colorado Parents Club. You can also watch the Doolies train in the Terrazzo from the Chapel Wall Viewing area. SWEARING IN CEREMONY Plan to attend this ceremony if you accompany your appointee to Inprocessing. You will be amazed at how fast the Doolies learn to march. It’s also a very moving and proud moment for parents, family and friends. Your Doolie may not be able to pick you out of the crowd, but try to let them know what you will be wearing. The public can observe the Swearing In Ceremony from the Chapel Wall. This area is part of the public areas of the Academy. Plan to get there early if you want a good spot. USAFA seems to change how they line up from year to year, so ask when you get there. There are bathroom facilities in the Chapel, and make sure to bring binoculars if you have them. DOOLIE DAY OUT Doolie Day Out is a transition day of sorts between BCT1 and BCT2. This year is a traditional Doolie Day Out where the Basics are released to sponsor families to enjoy the day away from the Academy. This will be the first time many Doolies are allowed to call home. Be ready and close to your phone. You don’t know when they will call. MARCH TO JACKS VALLEY Jacks Valley (donated land from the Jacks family) is a 3,300 acre training complex on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy used for military field training. Although the area is used year round by various military units and some civilian groups, the primary use of Jacks Valley is during the second half of Basic Cadet Training (BCT) each summer, when the new cadets (or “basic cadets” as they are known during the first summer) train in a field encampment environment. The basic cadets march three miles to and from jacks Valley, and while they are there, undergo one of the most physically demanding parts of their training at the Academy. While at Jacks Valley, basic cadets complete several courses. These will include the Obstacle Course, the Self Aid and Buddy Care Course, the Leadership Reaction Course at which small groups are required to work together to solve problems and cross obstacles, the Confidence Course with high obstacles and particularly challenging obstacles that are not normally completed for time, and the Assault Course in which basic cadets train in close-quarters combat skills. They also take part in small arms training. MARCH BACK FROM JACKS VALLEY 1000+ really, really tired Doolies return to the Hill. ACCEPTANCE PARADE Family and friends are welcome to attend the Acceptance Day Parade. You will be able to see your Cadet for a short time (2 or 3 hours) after the parade. Many families bring a picnic lunch since the Cadets are not allowed to leave the Academy. Although this has become a very popular event to attend, it is still not as crowded as the parades on Parents’ Weekend and Graduation. Plan to arrive early to get a good seat. There are usually markers on the field to help you locate where your cadet’s squadron will line up. The basic cadets are accepted into the wing and become Cadets. The fun has just begun! Many families go with their Cadets to the C-Store to get books, supplies, etc. that they will need. The C-Store will be very, very busy. Your Cadet will have time to get what they need at other times as long as they are organized. PARENTS’ WEEKEND Parents’ Weekend will be the first time the new cadets will be allowed to leave the Academy grounds since they arrived for Inprocessing. This is obviously a very big deal for them! Plan to arrive on Thursday, you should be able to visit your cadet in the evening for a short while on campus. On Friday, there will be open houses, a parade, and other activities. All cadets are required to attend the football game on Saturday. Parents can purchase tickets and attend. There are squadron tailgates parties that are mandatory for the cadets but friends and family are always invited to attend. All cadets sit in one section. Your Cadet will be released for the weekend sometime after the game. Don’t be alarmed if your cadet wants to eat and sleep a lot. They are all like this the first year! Remember, this weekend is all about them. All lower class cadets must sign in on Monday by 7:00 pm (subject to change). Our club will have custom designed club t-shirts available for purchase that we wear to the game to show our support for our cadets. We hope you will join us at the game. Order forms for the t-shirts will be sent out at a later date. Instructions for purchasing football tickets with our group will be provided later. You can sign up for Parents’ Weekend online from the USAFA website. They will mail or email packets of information for you including parking passes. Please check the Parents’ Weekend website for more information: http://www.usafa.edu/superintendent/parentsweekend/?catname=Parents%27%20Weekend WEBGUY AND BCT This is by far the most popular website for BCT Photos. Webguy is a USAFA graduate who, along with several assistants, takes photos that he posts daily on the AOG website. The photos are posted by squadron. He will also post the daily schedule on his blog at the same website. Membership in the AOG (Association of Graduates) is required to obtain access to photos during basic training. You can sign up at Doolittle Hall during Inprocessing or at: http://www.usafawebguy.com/ The monthly membership fee is $20.19. You will receive a username and password to peruse the THOUSANDS of BCT photos. Over 130,000 photos were taken last year just through Acceptance. He will also take pictures at other milestone events so check the website throughout the year. Webguy is arguably the most popular person among the Doolie parents. He is a parent’s lifeline to their basic Cadet. You will spend hours each night searching the photos for your child. He has even received standing ovations at the Acceptance Day Parade! This is truly a labor of love for him. The following websites have photos but nothing near the volume as Webguy and they are not posted daily. USAFA WEBSITE http://www.usafa.edu/cadetFocus/cadetPhotos/index.cfm CADET WING MEDIA Official Academy sponsored photos. You must pay to download/order. http://www.printroom.com/pro/afaphotos PROJECT WRITE2THEM A non-profit organization focused on serving the U.S. Military. Their mission is to help improve your son’s or daughter’s morale by helping you stay in touch with them during BCT. They turning emails into letters from home. http://www.write2them.org/ MAIL US Postal mail is delivered to mailboxes in Vandenberg Hall. Mail during BCT should be nondescript, non attention getting. No colored envelopes, perfumed envelopes, or food. You can copy newspaper articles or pictures on to printer paper. The cadre will surely ‘train” you basic if he/she receives forbidden objects in their mail. Be aware that they will not have access to their PO Boxes every day. Their visits to st the Post office during 1 BCT are dictated by the cadre. Mail will be delivered to them during 2 nd BCT at Jacks Valley. DO NOT send packages to arrive before Acceptance Day. Any packages received before Acceptance Day will be held until then. See “Acceptance Day” package suggestions. Your C4C will be running while carrying your package, so keep size and weight in mind. The US Postal Flat Rate Boxes are great. You can stuff as much as you can into the box and not worry about the weight. The sizes are just right for carrying with one hand/arm. SENDING MAIL TO AFA via US POST OFFICE Basic Cadet John Doe (after Acceptance: C4C John Doe) PO Box _ _ _ _ USAF Academy, CO 80841- _ _ _ _ (PO Box #) SENDING MAIL TO AFA via FEDEX, UPS, etc. Sometimes packages must be sent to a physical street address. C4C John Doe 2360 Vandenberg #- - - - (PO Box#) USAF Academy, CO 80840 SENDING MAIL TO PREP SCHOOL via US POST OFFICE C/C John Doe PO Box _ _ _ _ USAF Academy, CO 80840 - _ _ _ _ (PO Box #) SENDING MAIL TO PREP SCHOOL via FEDEX, UPS, etc C/C John Doe 5136 Community Center Dr. # _ _ _ _ (PO Box#) USAFA Academy, CO 80840 CADET EMAIL Your cadet will not have email capability until after Acceptance Day when computers are issued. When issued, the address should be: C19John.Doe@usafa.edu (the C19 means class of 2019) TELEPHONES th Historically, cellular phones have been held until each squadron determines when the 4 class cadets can have them. Some squadrons are more lenient than others so time will differ. Refer to the Appointee Package for the exact policy for this year. It is NOT uncommon for the cadets to be given their cell phones and then have to surrender them back later. ACCEPTANCE DAY Care Package (suggestions) Always – always – ask your cadet first if s/he is allowed to have these items. Some squadrons don’t. Also, roommates often get duplicate supplies from their parents. So check with your cadet so that all 3 roommates don’t all get Windex & no one gets Swiffer dusters. Cadets are very limited to what and how many items can be on their desk, so make sure to ASK your Cadet. FUNCTIONAL • Watch with alarm clock - lightweight, waterproof (or tiny alarm clock; radio not allowed) • First Aid Kit with lots of bandages & OTC pain relievers • Fork, spoon, knife • Microwaveable mug or bowl* • Storage box, plastic (ask your cadet what size s/he wants) • Duct tape (super-handy) • Screwdriver set or multi tool FOR SAMIs • Lint roller • KIWI Express Shine sponge • Tide stain remover pen or Shout wipes • Windex, Lysol or Clorox wipes (OR bottle of Windex – ask your cadet) • Swiffer dusters (gets every bit of dust, even the microscopic ones that the cadre spot) • Fabric softener sheets (duster and deodorizer) • Room freshener/Febreeze/Lysol Spray •Small bagless vacuum with attachments for nooks and crannies PERSONAL • Favorite underwear (2 weeks supply) •Fingernail clippers •Deodorant • Favorite sunglasses • Odor eaters or other shoe freshener • Spending money (or deposit to cadet’s bank account) – small denomination as cadets split pizzas etc. FOR FUN • Desktop framed photo collage or photo album of favorite pics • Digital Camera DESK SUPPLIES • School supplies: printer paper, stapler, 3hole punch, metallic push-pins, pens, (mechanical) pencils, erasers, scissors, tape, etc. • Postage stamps and stationery • External Hard Drive (flashdrives not allowed) • Small fan (it gets hot in between thunderstorms) FOOD* (*Not all squadrons allow MW food; check with your cadet first) • Microwaveable food (if allowed), e.g., Ramen noodles, Hormel MW meals • Protein bars • Dried fruits • Candy, Cookies, Crackers, Chips •Instant oatmeal, individual breakfast cereals HELPFUL INFORMATION Class Ranks: Senior: Firstie, 1˚, C1C Junior: 2˚, C2C Sophomore: 3˚, C3C Freshman: Doolie, 4˚, C4C Basic Training Period: Basic Dormitories: The two dormitories (halls) are Sijan and Vandenberg (Vandy). Sijan is on the South side of the Academy (right of the Chapel viewing wall) and Vandenberg is on the North side. All cadet Postal boxes are in Vandenberg. Some squadrons will change rooms and roommates the Doolie year at semester break. After the Doolie year, Cadets are assigned to their permanent squad and are assigned to a new dorm/room/roommates (although this practice may change for the Class of 2019). Some squads allow you to request roommates. Cadets also move out of their rooms during the summer. Each squad has a storage room where everything is stored during the summer. Blue and Silver Weekends Weekends are assigned as either Blue or Silver. Blue Weekends are the weekends that the Doolies have some free time. If you are going to attempt a visit in the fall, the Blue Weekends are the target weekends. However, Squads could be put on restrictions for a number of reasons at the last minute. During the spring semester during Recognition, everything changes and free time is almost non-existent and Doolies are restricted almost the entire time. Silver Weekends are usually home football games weekends where the Doolies are involved in training of some kind and their free time is very limited. Doolies are required to march into the stadium and attend the football games unless they have a different duty that day, usually another sport. Religious Services Religious services are offered during Basic Training. During the school year they are offered on regular service days at the Chapel. Cadets are NOT singled out or treated differently if they choose to go to service. It is not only fulfilling, it is also relaxing! Grading Scale (subject to change) A 4.0 A- 3.7 B+ 3.3 B 3.0 C+ 2.3 C 2.0 C- 1.7 D 1.0 B- 2.7 Semester grades are a combination of GPA, MPA and PFA: GPA: Grade Point Average MPA: Military Performance Average PFA: Physical Fitness Average HONOR Lists Dean’s List: Cadets who have a minimum course load and whose current SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) is at least 3.0, excluding Physical Education grades. Commandant’s List: Cadets whose current semester Military Performance Average (MPA) is 3.00 or above. Athletic Director’s List: Cadets whose current semester Physical Fitness Average (PFA) is 3.00 or above and who meet all other established criteria. Superintendent’s List: Cadets who are on all three lists, Dean’s, Commandant’s, and Athletic Director’s. Academic Probation (AcPro) Academic Probation is a constructive tool used to improve academic performance for cadets who fail a course or whose GPA falls below 2.0. Cadets should not be shy about asking for help as soon as they recognize they are having difficulty. In the past AcPro was not considered the end of the world. It is still not, however, with reductions in the number of cadets allowed at the Academy, a closer look is given to these cadets. Cadets will meet with their chain of command an improvement plan is developed and implemented. The goal is to have every cadet succeed! Printers: They can be purchased from Cadet Bookstore which is advisable as the supplies for those printers are also available. Coordinate with your roommates. Each Squad also has a Squadron printer but you have to go there to get your printed copies which can be difficult until after Recognition. Some Doolies have figured out that they can do all their printing then wait until trash detail that night to go pick them up (restrictions are eased during trash detail!) Purchasing Textbooks Textbooks can be purchased at the Cadet Bookstore on your account or by credit card, or you can check out various websites including: www.Half.com (part of Ebay) www.Facultybooks.com www.EasyBookBuyBack.com You can also get digital versions of textbooks for your Ipad and Kindle, and Cadets can buy books from each other. Cadet Care Packages / Birthday Cakes / Goodie Bags Check out the various options that are available. The Colorado Parents Club offers an assortment of timed delivery of goodie bags (Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Finals), plus there are companies and groups that will deliver Birthday Cakes, Care Packages, Hot Meals, etc. Webguy, USAGA website, and the AOG are great places to check. Websites and Forums USAFA Parents Club of Central Florida…………..………..www.cfparentsclub.com United States Air Force Academy……................................www.usafa.af.mil USAFA Association of Graduates………………….……………..….……….www.usafa.org Webguy………………………………………………………….…….……..www.usafawebguy.com 10th Support Force Squadron (Cadet Activities)…….….www.usafaservices.com USAFA Treats………………..www.usafasupport.com/cadet-activities/cadet-treats Academy Spirit Newspaper……………www.usafa.af.mil/news/academyspirit.asp Family Net (Famnet)……………………………………………………….www.falconpride.com Official USAFA Facebook Page…………….…...www.facebook.com/USAFA.Official Also join your Class Facebook Page, Yahoo Group, etc. The websites below have a LOT of information but can be overwhelming and full of opinions. Sometimes it is better to ask a Parents Club member if you need advice or information. But here they are: USAFA Community…………………………………………..…….www.usafacommunity.com Service Academy Forums………….………………..www.serviceacademyforums.com USAFA SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES 4˚ 3˚ 2˚ 1˚ Year (Freshman): BCT, Acceptance, Recognition Year: 1000s Night Year: Commitment, Loan, Cars, Ring Dance Year: AFCS selection, 100s Weekend, Commissioning, GRADUATION TRAVEL ADVICE IMPORTANT: Make your reservations for Parents Weekend. NOW! The two airports that you will most likely use are Colorado Springs and Denver. The CS airport is smaller but 15-20 minutes closer. It is a very easy drive from the Denver airport (60 to 70 minutes). You can avoid the toll road and most likely should unless you want to pay tolls plus service charges to the car rental agency. You don’t pay tolls at a plaza. It is all tied to the license plate. During the Academic Year, the Academy arranges for Bus Service for Thanksgiving, Winter Break, and Spring Break. The Cadets get to leave after LMD (last military duty) which can be different for each squad. Bus information is emailed to the cadets and they can make reservations. Parents can do this on their behalf by calling the number provided when the schedule is released. Don’t overly stress about getting your cadet to and from the airport. Have them make the bus reservation early, or you do it for them. There are thousands of cadets going to and from the airport. They will find a ride if they need it. Choose your flights that make sense, but don’t cut it too close, especially on the return. Cadets DO NOT want to report back late. That is very, very bad. USO (DENVER AIRPORT) For those cadets who may have a long wait at the Denver Airport the USO is a good place to hang out. They even have free food! The hours are sometimes extended of the Christmas holiday. There is no USO at the Colorado Springs airport. The USO is located on Concourse A. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU VISIT (besides what is at the Academy) Whatever your cadet wants to do! But some great activities include: Pikes Peak – either by car or via the Cog Railway. Garden of the Gods – cool rock formations. Cave of the Winds – cave tour plus a challenging obstacle course. Manitou Springs – great little tourist town at the base of Pikes Peak. White water rafting, snow skiing, etc. Colorado Springs has every imaginable restaurant, movie theatres, and more. Just enjoy the time with your Cadet! SUMMER SQUADRONS FOR BCT Squadron A Aggressors Lt. Blue Flight Academic Sq. a 1 b 2 c 3 d 4 e 5 Orange Flight Academic Sq. a 6 b 7 c 8 d 9 3 10 Purple Flight a b c d e Academic Sq. 11 12 13 14 15 Green Flight a b c d e Academic Sq. 16 17 18 19 20 Navy Flight a b c d e Academic Sq. 21 22 23 24 25 Red Flight a b c d e Academic Sq. 26 27 28 29 30 Maroon Flight a b c d e Academic Sq. 31 32 33 34 35 Yellow Flight a b c d e Academic Sq. 36 37 38 39 40 B Barbarians C Cobras D Demons E Executioners F Flying Tigers G Guts H Hell Cats Cadet Wing Breakdown for the Academic Year Cadet Wing Groups 1st Group - Squads 2nd Group - Squads 3rd Group - Squads 4th Group - Squads Squadron Flights within Squad Elements within Flights 40 Squads App. 3900-4100 cadets 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 App. 1000 Cadets App. 1000 Cadets App. 1000 Cadets App. 1000 Cadets A B C 1 2 3 App.100 cadets App. 30-35 cadets in each App. 10 - 12 cadets in each